FLEXIBLE FUND

Fabriotic

Lead institution

Partners

Project Duration

FABRIOTIC: Biotic textiles as an enabler of improved circularity.

There is an opportunity to improve textile circularity by integrating the design of textiles and the products used to care for them by consumers. In doing so, we could significantly extend the lifetime of fabrics and improve the properties of fabrics that are easier to recycle, such as 100% polyester. Athletic clothing is typically discarded prematurely due to the development of malodour, known as ‘permastink’. FABRIOTIC will pilot an integrated system involving biotic clothing prototypes containing Bacillus spores, cared for between washes using products designed to nurture a safe and effective community with capability to alleviate persistent malodour. Wearer trials will be conducted to determine an improvement in the longevity of athletic clothing by preventing ‘permastink’, and hence overcome an important barrier to adoption of highly recyclable 100% polyester textiles. Demonstrating that co-design of biotic textiles and care products could enable a circularity breakthrough.